Eastern bluebird.
The sun rose, the air warmed, and after a busy ol’ morning at my desk, I decided I should grab opportunities when presented and set out on a fast bike ride. A bit of a south wind made the going slower in that direction, but heading north, I flew. Not many birds, en route—crow, gull, starling, jay—but the wind sure felt good in my ears.
Rock.
Meantime, it looks like dog and I will be hiking Beech Hill before quitting time for a while. We got there rather late in the day today, but the sun still hung high, and the moon was rising out over the bay. Still relatively mild, and not too breezy. Heard chickadees at the parking lot, but that was all. (One.) I couldn’t imagine ending up with many birds on today’s list, but I’ve learned a thing or two about expectations.
Coming up the hill, I heard a flicker. (Two.) Then I happened to see three birds flutter up into one of the trailside birches, lit by the afternoon sun. I saw they had ruddy breasts and thought at first they were robins—but they seemed to small. Jack and I crept closer as I snapped off a series of photos. But before we got very near, a hiking couple coming down the trail toward us spooked the birds, and they flew. However, they flew directly over us, and I saw that they were small, and I heard their faint chirps, which sounded kind of familiar. Not until I got home and processed the photos—one had what looked like a moth in its beak—did I confirm that they were bluebirds. (Three.)
Scanned the lake for coots, and there they were. (Four.)
Then I found a rock someone had balanced on another rock. And heard crows. (Five.)
Brown creeper.
No more species until we reached the parking lot again, where I heard more chickadees. And also a nuthatch. (Six.) And titmice. (Seven.) A hairy woodpecker. (Eight.) Suddenly I heard a brown creeper’s voice, and one of the little brown birds flitted onto a tree trunk right in front of me. (Nine.) When shortly after I saw movement in some low leaves, I took it for the woodpecker—but it turned out to be a blue jay. (Ten.)
I didn’t expect that many, that’s for sure.
Tonight’s moon has crept (or slipped) closer to Jupiter than last night’s. Following them again comes Orion. And again, bright Sirius, my favorite star, flashing red and green.
Beech Hill List
Beginning at 3:15 p.m., I hiked the open trail.
1. Black-capped chickadee
2. Northern flicker (voice)
3. Eastern bluebird
4. American coot
5. American crow
6. White-breasted nuthatch (voice)
7. Tufted titmouse (voice)
8. Hairy woodpecker (voice)
9. Brown creeper
10. Blue jay
Elsewhere
11. Herring gull
12. European starling
The hill.
Tags: American coot, American crow, black-capped chickadee, blue jay, brown creeper, eastern bluebird, European starling, hairy woodpecker, herring gull, northern flicker, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch
